What's the best/safest way to format a Voice Over monologue before the character is physically seen? I have an idea but I understand these can get sticky. Any useful suggestions will help. Thanks in advance!
Feel free to take a look at Absolution under my loglines section. I open with a V.O. There are also plenty of examples. Just find a movie that opens with one and search for the screenplay.
Thanks guys! Pierre & Dan: Thanks again. I probably wasn't as clear as I should have been in asking the question (sorry), but I was mainly referring to the execution of it more so than the composition. like would this be acceptable: EXT. OUTER SPACE - NIGHT Speckled stars decorate a pool of endless black space. It's easy to get lost out here. JEREMY (V.O.) I was one lost bastard when it came to voice over intros. But the good fellas over at Stage32 had the remedy for that.... INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT JEREMY, a young passionate Pittsburgher hours removed from the gym and also the narrator, sits on his couch tapping away at the Stage32 app on his iPhone. JEREMY (V.O.) After I talked with them, I felt alot better. JEREMT I feel a lot better!
Looks good to me Jeremy, but I will be pedantic in pointing out that you won't need a TOD in your slug when the scene is outer space as there is no such thing as day or night.
Dan - Thanks! Yeah, I get that much. That was one of THEE FIRST things I was instilled upon starting this journey, but i will continue to keep it in mind
EVERYONE - Im basically just trying to keep a potential reader (especially one empowered to option or buy the script) from reading Page 1 & going "Who in the **** is Jimmy" before they are intro'd in the physical. I'm going the same direction in my actual project as I went in the example. We see a setting, the voice over is over top of the setting, and THEN we see the narrator in the physical. As long as that is acceptable, and doesnt break the "laws", I will go with that.
Isn't a VO role and type different in a documentary and in a feature film? I had to try many voices in my documentary short until I decide that the "least unfit "voice was the last to be chosen.not the best yet.Some people who watch the movie said the voice was enerving!VO is like music difficult to find the perfect one.The sound of it should suggest the physical person and the words or shoud fit this suggestion or scream the contrary.
Feel free to take a look at Absolution under my loglines section. I open with a V.O. There are also plenty of examples. Just find a movie that opens with one and search for the screenplay.
Straight forward. As you would normally write a VO. Character Name (V.O.)
Thanks guys! Pierre & Dan: Thanks again. I probably wasn't as clear as I should have been in asking the question (sorry), but I was mainly referring to the execution of it more so than the composition. like would this be acceptable: EXT. OUTER SPACE - NIGHT Speckled stars decorate a pool of endless black space. It's easy to get lost out here. JEREMY (V.O.) I was one lost bastard when it came to voice over intros. But the good fellas over at Stage32 had the remedy for that.... INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT JEREMY, a young passionate Pittsburgher hours removed from the gym and also the narrator, sits on his couch tapping away at the Stage32 app on his iPhone. JEREMY (V.O.) After I talked with them, I felt alot better. JEREMT I feel a lot better!
JEREMY**
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Looks good to me Jeremy, but I will be pedantic in pointing out that you won't need a TOD in your slug when the scene is outer space as there is no such thing as day or night.
lol noted. Thanks
John - if he's unseen on the screen, I don't think I would describe his appearance, like you did in your example, right?
Dan - Thanks! Yeah, I get that much. That was one of THEE FIRST things I was instilled upon starting this journey, but i will continue to keep it in mind
EVERYONE - Im basically just trying to keep a potential reader (especially one empowered to option or buy the script) from reading Page 1 & going "Who in the **** is Jimmy" before they are intro'd in the physical. I'm going the same direction in my actual project as I went in the example. We see a setting, the voice over is over top of the setting, and THEN we see the narrator in the physical. As long as that is acceptable, and doesnt break the "laws", I will go with that.
John - sure thing. thanks again for the help!
Clarity above all else. Read "The Screenwriter's Bible" by David Trottier and all will be answered.
Anyone with the power to option or buy the script will understand the format and won't ask that question if it's written correctly.
Dan - Definitely. I agree with you on that. No issues there
Isn't a VO role and type different in a documentary and in a feature film? I had to try many voices in my documentary short until I decide that the "least unfit "voice was the last to be chosen.not the best yet.Some people who watch the movie said the voice was enerving!VO is like music difficult to find the perfect one.The sound of it should suggest the physical person and the words or shoud fit this suggestion or scream the contrary.